In 2006 Triumph came out with their Scrambler. A replica of the 1956 TR6C, it has high pipes, knobby tires, and looks much like the bike Steve McQueen rode in the 1964 ISDT. And I had to have one. Besides the high pipes, and cool character-hey Steve rode one, I had their off road pipes installed, making it the first Triumph I owned that could be as loud as a Harley-without putting baseball cards in the spokes. Its exhaust note definitely had an attitude, so I set out to find one. But in the mean time, times were good, and Mickey and I discussed building a bobber, much like the Mission Impossible bike he had in his shop-he handles Triumph's press fleet. So one Saturday Andrew and I head off in the truck to Orange County Triumph, to buy a Bonneville which will be bobbed. And the plan is going good until we get there. Where we are greeted by Todd, the general manager. And he is all excited.
"Mike, this guy here is trading in this Scrambler-only has 1202 miles on it, just serviced. Here is what we offer him in trade, see if you can get it from him for the same or less. I know how bad you want one." And I talked with the man, and we did get it, for the trade in price, and he bought a new Tiger, just like mine from them. But it cost Todd a new bike sale to us, but he rather see us happy, and riding what we wanted. And that was how we did business. A relationship based more on a long term, than just buying another bike. In fact, when we bought our Tiger, Todd told Nathan, "see what we have in it." When Nathan told him the invoice price, Todd said "that's Mike's price." And over the years we built relationships- bought 12 bikes from them in 14 years, and we became friends, comparing best food notes, getting to know each other's families, and not minding driving 72 miles to do business. Family is how they described us, and we knew all the guys, and knew them well. We were able to minister to them, have them at our Christmas party, and were there for them when they needed it. All in all, a great relationship, one that any biker riding any brand would dream of.
But this weekend it is over. Sadly, it has been for a while. Lousy business practices, greedy owners, and the economy sunk the dealership. When Todd left, and the owner's son took over, he ran off all us old timers, the ones who showed up on Saturdays for free lunches. Who bought special order parts without deposits, who called ahead and were always fit in for service, without an appointment. We were the ones who didn't quibble over price, and supported them with our business and friendship, being their key source of advertising, selling more bikes than any ad could ever sell for them. But with the new manager, we all left. And in fact, we were scowled at when we did show up, all he saw was a discount to us, not the thousands we spent on our bikes-that went to another shop. and even down to the end, with their going out of business sale-advertised at 20% off, and 80% this weekend, ran off sales when guys were told to come back tomorrow-when 80% would be honored-as if there really was a tomorrow for them.
Out of business. History. A memory. Friends who no longer have jobs, and will have to try to find them within a motorsports industry that is off 40%. And without fail, talking with friends who patronized them, feel that the reason is that they were only after the dollar, and quit looking out for their customers. Bottom line was there is no bottom line without customers, and they ran us off.
Ecclesiastes tells us that the rich man never has enough money, and loses sleep worrying about it. The Bible also states the LOVE of money-not money, is the root of all evil. And sadly, when businesses operate like this, they are on borrowed time, and everyone from the vendors, to the employees, to the customers suffer. How many fail to understand the profit margin in a no sale?
Your life is about relationships, and it starts with God. Without Him you are on borrowed time, and I also got the news yesterday that Little Eric died last Friday in a bike accident. I had met him at OCT, and knew him for years. We loved on him, and stuck by him when drugs took over his life. We had seen him last month when in Brea at the Triumph/Ducati store, and embraced and visited as we always had. Never realizing it would be his last conversation with us. Now he's gone, and I feel empty-not for me, the pain is for him. You never know for sure, but his lifestyle and attitude was not one that revealed a relationship with Christ. And without Jesus, death brings hell for eternity. And it is a choice we all make-for God sends no one to hell-He sent Jesus so we would not have to go.
We never know when the ride we are on may be our last. We don't when our day of death is to be-but we can be assured of heaven when we do die if we accept Jesus. Besides all the earthly blessings of knowing Him, we get eternal life with Him, too. You see everything but your soul has a beginning and an end. And this weekend, 14 years of relationships with our dealer, and our friend came to an end. Memories is all that remain. You who are reading this are my friends, even if we have never met. And I wish that none go to hell. So please consider Jesus Christ-today. He wants you to go to heaven with Him also. Go past the religion and start a relationship. You may find you were wrong about Him, He was down on the religious people, for He is not a set of rules-but freedom. And who can't use more freedom and less rules?
Have I made you my enemy by telling you the truth? No preaching-just an example, I hope of Jesus, and what He can do for you. Sometime in everyone's life they are confronted with Him, and who He is. What will your answer be? There is no discounted salvation-He paid the full price so you don't have too. Start that relationship today, and watch as you become a new creation in Christ. Saying nothing is akin to saying no. It is too late for Eric-please don't let it be too late for you.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
